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Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day

Merriam-Webster

Free daily dose of word power from Merriam-Webster"s experts

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00:02:18

arbitrary

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/11/02

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 2, 2025 is:arbitrary • \AHR-buh-trair-ee\ • adjective Arbitrary describes something that is not planned or chosen for a particular reason, is not based on reason or evidence, or is done without concern for what is fair or right. // Because the committee wasn’t transparent about the selection process, the results of the process appeared to be wholly arbitrary. // An arbitrary number will be assigned to

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00:01:41

ostracize

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/11/01

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for November 1, 2025 is: ostracize • \AH-struh-syze\ • verb To ostracize someone is to exclude them from a group by the agreement of the group's members. // She was ostracized by her community after refusing to sign the petition. See the entry > Examples: "Telling stories with affection and noodging, [comedian Sarah] Silverman has always been encouraged by her family, who embraced rather than

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00:02:16

hobgoblin

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/31

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 31, 2025 is: hobgoblin • \HAHB-gahb-lin\ • noun A hobgoblin is a mischievous goblin that plays tricks in children’s stories. When used figuratively, hobgoblin refers to something that causes fear or worry. // This Halloween we were greeted at our door by werewolves, mummies, and a wide assortment of sweet-toothed hobgoblins. See the entry > Examples: “Vampires and zombies took a big bite

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00:01:59

truculent

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/30

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 30, 2025 is: truculent • \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ • adjective Truculent describes a person who is easily annoyed and eager to argue or fight. It can also describe the mood or attitude of such a person. // The approach of multiple deadlines had put me in a truculent mood, and I could tell my colleagues were avoiding me. See the entry > Examples: “It’s the holidays, and strings of gaudy rainbow

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00:02:14

deliquesce

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/29

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 29, 2025 is: deliquesce • \del-ih-KWESS\ • verb Deliquesce can mean "to dissolve or melt away" or, in reference to some fungal structures (such as mushroom gills), "to become soft or liquid with age or maturity." // The mushrooms deliquesced into an inky fluid. See the entry > Examples: "He would mould his figures in full in wax, then take a hot knife and—like a metaphysical surgeon—cut

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00:01:48

menagerie

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/28

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 28, 2025 is: menagerie • \muh-NAJ-uh-ree\ • noun Menagerie refers to a collection of animals kept especially to be shown to the public, as well as a place where such animals are kept. It can also refer figuratively to any varied mixture of things. // The aviary featured a menagerie of exotic birds. // The space is eclectically furnished with a menagerie of flea market finds. See the entry >

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00:01:38

acerbic

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/27

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 27, 2025 is: acerbic • \uh-SER-bik\ • adjective Something described as acerbic is sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone. // The comedian draws crowds that appreciate his acerbic wit. See the entry > Examples: "Whether she's giving a sarcastic eye-roll, tossing off an acerbic zinger, or seducing with a come-hither stare, [actress Jennifer] Simard

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00:01:55

cognoscente

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/26

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 26, 2025 is:cognoscente • \kahn-yuh-SHEN-tee\ • noun Cognoscente refers to a person with expert knowledge in a subject. It is usually encountered in its plural form, cognoscenti, and preceded by the. // The audience at the club, though small, was full of writers, musicians, and other noteworthy members of the jazz cognoscenti. See the entry > Examples: "Even as [Ray] Bradbury was embraced

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00:01:44

wreak

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/25

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 25, 2025 is: wreak • \REEK\ • verb Wreak means “to cause something very harmful or damaging.” It is often used with on or upon. // The virus wreaked havoc on my laptop. See the entry > Examples: “Ours is a geography of cataclysm: Santa Anas wreak their psychic wrath; the odor of disaster seeps from the street like that sulfurous egg smell of the La Brea Tar Pits.” — John Lopez, The

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00:01:44

rancid

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/24

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 24, 2025 is: rancid • \RAN-sid\ • adjective Rancid usually describes something edible that has a strong and unpleasant smell or taste because it is no longer fresh. In figurative use, rancid describes things that are very distasteful or offensive. // The corpse flower, which is the largest known individual flower of any plant species, stays open five to seven days and emits a rancid odor. See the entry >

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00:02:08

litany

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/23

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 23, 2025 is: litany • \LIT-uh-nee\ • noun Litany usually refers to a long list of complaints, problems, etc. It can also refer to a sizable series or set, a lengthy recitation, a repetitive chant, or a particular kind of call-and-response prayer. // Among the television critic’s litany of complaints about the new series is the anachronistic costume design. See the entry > Examples: “Out

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00:01:44

frolic

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/22

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 22, 2025 is: frolic • \FRAH-lik\ • verb To frolic is to play and move about happily. // We watched the seals as they frolicked in the harbor. See the entry > Examples: “Harper’s consciousness ends up in the body of her mom, Anna. Lily bodyswaps with her soon-to-be grandma Tess. And vice versa. Meaning Lohan and Curtis are playing teens again. While their younger co-stars mug sternly, make

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00:01:27

sedentary

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/21

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 21, 2025 is: sedentary • \SED-un-tair-ee\ • adjective Something described as sedentary does or involves a lot of sitting. Sedentary can also mean "not physically active" (as in "a sedentary lifestyle") or "not migratory" (as in "sedentary birds" or "a sedentary civilization"). // Editing the dictionary is a sedentary job. See the entry > Examples: "From open offices to home workstations,

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00:01:39

etymology

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/20

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 20, 2025 is: etymology • \eh-tuh-MAH-luh-jee\ • noun An etymology is an explanation of a word’s history—that is, where the word came from and how it developed. // As a word nerd, I’m always eager to learn a word’s etymology and trace it back to its earliest known origins. See the entry > Examples: “A recent Vogue bride, Nicole Amarise, changed her name—as did her husband. ‘Together we

en-us

00:02:03

veritable

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/19

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 19, 2025 is:veritable • \VAIR-uh-tuh-bul\ • adjective Veritable is a formal adjective that means “being in fact the thing named and not false, unreal, or imaginary.” It is often used to stress the aptness of a metaphorical description. // The island is a veritable paradise. // The sale attracted a veritable mob of people. See the entry > Examples: “The Roma are often described as an

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00:01:57

muse

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/18

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 18, 2025 is: muse • \MYOOZ\ • verb When muse is used to mean "to think about something carefully or thoroughly," it is usually followed by about, on, over, or upon. The word can also mean "to become absorbed in thought," or "to think or say something in a thoughtful way." // He mused on the possibility of pursuing a master's degree. // "I could sell the house," she mused aloud, "but then where would I

en-us

00:02:15

kibosh

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/17

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 17, 2025 is: kibosh • \KYE-bosh\ • noun Kibosh refers to something that serves as a check or stop. It is usually used in the phrase “put the kibosh on” to mean “to stop or end (something)” or “to prevent (something) from happening or continuing.” // I downloaded an app to help me put the kibosh on my high screen time. See the entry > Examples: “… Maybe, suggests [Graham] Dugoni and other

en-us

00:01:55

biannual

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/16

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 16, 2025 is: biannual • \bye-AN-yuh-wul\ • adjective Biannual is an adjective used to describe something that happens twice a year, or something that happens every two years. // The art show is a biannual event that won’t happen again for two more years. // The group holds biannual meetings in December and July. See the entry > Examples: “About 200 miles of trails make up The Alabama

en-us

00:01:40

coalesce

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/15

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 15, 2025 is: coalesce • \koh-uh-LESS\ • verb To coalesce is to come together to form one group or mass. // The club’s community service projects provide students with a common goal to coalesce around. // The movie is full of beautifully written scenes but they never coalesce into a whole. See the entry > Examples: “... as Angola prepares for the final, the combination of personal

en-us

00:02:09

utopia

Merriam-Webster"s Word of the Day ·

2025/10/14

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for October 14, 2025 is: utopia • \yoo-TOH-pee-uh\ • noun Utopia refers to an imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect; a utopia is a place of ideal perfection. // It’s a nice place to live, but it’s no utopia. See the entry > Examples: “Despite the rest of the group arguing with and (mostly) disagreeing with him for half the evening, my colleague stuck to his

en-us

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